864x865

864x865

This page was begun 4 May 2001 -- rak.

"[Ralph] ... married Mary ([Crispen] ? ) about 1706.... Ralph ... [and Mary] lived in the far northwest part of Middlesex County.  Thomas Meriwether's large landholdings were just north of the [Middlesex-]Essex County border.  The 65 acres ... [Meriwether] was granted in 1706 and willed to Ralph Shelton in 1708 bordered on Dragon Swamp just over the line in Middlesex.... The area was apparently fairly remote even at a much later date;  it was in the Dragon Swamp area that county records were preserved during the Civil War.... [This land was in Christ Church Parish ... (established 1666) ... [and had become] Middlesex County in 1669.  [Ayers, 40-41]"  

"[Other than his marriage] We have [almost] no knowledge of what Ralph Shelton did between the time he came into the colony [sponsored by Thomas Meriwether [p.35]], in 1702 or earlier, and the time when he inherited ... [the 65 acres] from Meriwether in 1708.  There is no record of his acquiring [other] property.  The parish records refer to [the death of one of his slaves in 1729 and to births in 1728, 1729 and 1732 to] his female slaves ...  Other than road processioner, he held no offices or positions of responsibility that we know of.  He was not a militia officer nor was he active in church affairs.  All of these known facts would indicate that he did not play a prominent role in community affairs, and that he probably led a fairly precarious economic life.  One of his sons, Crispin, was apparently very well educated, prosperous and prominent in the affairs of his community years later.  Another son, Ralph, Jr., married a daughter of William Daniel, a Middlesex County citizen of considerable standing ... Since [Ralph, Sr.] did not have enough land to divide, it was probably necessary for most of the sons to push farther west.  As far as we know, only [the eldest] Thomas died in Middlesex. [Ayers, 41-42]"

"The Middlesex Christ Church parish register records the birth or baptism of all except one of Ralph and Mary Shelton's 11 children.  They are as follows (all surname Shelton) [all from Ayers, 42-43 unless otherwise noted]:

i. "Thomas, baptized 9 November 1707, married 14 January 1730, Mary Probert (daughter of William and Hannah Probert, born 16 November 1708), and died 24 March 1743.  William Probert owned land close to Ralph Shelton in 1703 [Ayers, p.141, note 298].  Thomas apparently remained on the 65 acres of land owned by his father, and his son Reuben disposed of it as part of a parcel of 100 acres on both sides of the Middlesex-Essex line in 1770."

ii. "Ralph, baptized 23 October 1709."

iii. "Elizabeth must have been born by about 1710, though her baptism is not recorded in the parish register.  She married William Davis 9 October 1728.  She is mentioned in the wills of both her father and her mother."

iv. "Crispin was born 1 April 1713 and his will was proved in Pittsylvania County 17 February 1794.  He may have been married twice;  records refer to both "Letitia" and Letice" [surely this is the same woman --rak].  He was prominent in Pittsylvania County, a member of the 1775 Committee of Safety and a vestryman.  At the time of his death his inventory included 48 slaves and a sizable library including many law books. [His name tends to make be think the folks are correct who think his mother's maiden name was Crisp, Crispen or Crispin --rak]"

v.  "Reuben, born 1 February, died 8 October, 1715."

vi. "Mary, born 21 January 1716."

vii. "Catherine, born 26 January 1719, married 1744, George Blakey, born Middlesex County 3 April 1716, son of Churchill and Sarah (George) Blakey.  Catherine died before 28 April 1746, when George married again.  Mary Clark's will mentions a granddaughter, Patience Catesby Blakey."

viii. "John, born 19 July 1722.  Like other family members, he went first to Amelia and then Pittsylvania County."

ix. "Benjamin, born 18 June 1724, also went to Amelia and [then to] Pittsylvania Counties."

x.  "James, born 23 February 1726.

xi. "Daniel, born 17 May 1729, was a boy when his father died.  Many years later he served on the Committee of Safety in Pittsylvania County and as a major in the Revolutionary War."

"Only a fragment of Ralph Shelton's will, proved in 1734, exists.  He mentions his wife Mary, sons Ralph, Thomas and Crispin and daughter Elizabeth Davis;  he asks Thomas to 'take care of my children if my wife should [re]marry and if Thomas should die then two sons Ralph and Crispin to care for them.'  A few more words are legible: 'My children shall be at liberty at nineteen years.'  Executors were Ralph's widow Mary, his son Thomas and daughter Elizabeth Davis.  Witnesses were William Buford, Thomas Clark and Henry Buford. [Ayers, p.42]"

To go to Ralph's page, click it.  To go to Mary's page, click it.  To return to the Tree Index, click it.